Manila: The House prosecution panel on Monday night welcomed the Senate impeachment court's decision granting its requests to subpoena Vice President Sara Z. Duterte's bank, financial, and tax records. The ruling is seen as a victory not only for the prosecution but also for truth, accountability, and the Filipino people.
According to Philippines News Agency, after the seventh day of the impeachment trial, House prosecution legal spokesperson lawyer Benjamin 'Jay' Tolosa Jr. explained that the impeachment court agreed that the panel had sufficiently shown the relevance and specificity of the documents it sought. These motions covered the specified bank records, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, Carpio Lawyers, and 19 other entities.
During a press conference, Tolosa expressed satisfaction with the court's decision to grant their requests, although he noted that some limitations were still made, particularly concerning foreign currency-denominated accounts and accounts related to JTC Group of Companies and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corporation.
House prosecutor and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima described the ruling as a victory for truth and accountability, emphasizing that it also reinforced the Senate impeachment court's constitutional authority to compel the production of evidence. She highlighted that the ruling recognized that confidentiality provisions under existing laws are not absolute and cannot override the impeachment court's constitutional powers.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union echoed the prosecutors' sentiments, calling the ruling a significant win for the public, as it allows the inspection of bank records previously shielded by confidentiality. Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin stressed that the ruling was not a judgment on the merits of the impeachment case but rather an order for the production of requested records for the court's consideration.
The Senate impeachment court, led by Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero, granted the requests for subpoenas, citing that the documents met the relevancy and definiteness requirements necessary for a subpoena duces tecum under court rules. Escudero emphasized that these records were material to the allegations under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which allege that Duterte accumulated unexplained wealth during her public service.
The court's decision to grant the subpoenas included several conditions. It authorized the production of records from 2007 to 2021, solely for comparison to Duterte's financial position during her current term. The court also allowed the examination of bank records held separately by Carpio and jointly with Duterte, referencing laws that require public officials to disclose assets involving their spouses.
For the businesses identified by the prosecution, the court approved requests concerning 19 entities and Carpio Lawyers, with limitations excluding foreign-currency deposits and certain companies lacking a prima facie link. The prosecution's request for AMLC records was also granted, with the court rejecting the defense's confidentiality objections.
The court ruled that AMLC's footnotes limiting reports to intelligence purposes did not nullify the Senate's subpoena powers. The requested transaction reports, deemed relevant in tracing the alleged accumulation of unexplained wealth, are to be submitted for an in-camera review on July 30, 2026, before determining their admissibility.
Similarly, the court granted the subpoena directed to BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza, finding the specified tax records relevant to Article II. The BIR commissioner was ordered to submit the records for the court's review, ensuring compliance with the National Internal Revenue Code before any disclosure.
